Federal Politics

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says pharmacare will not jeopardize Canada’s fiscal standing as the federal government intends to abide by the spending rules it pledged in the fall. Freeland speaks at a news conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

Freeland pledges pharmacare deal won’t jeopardize federal finances

Finance minister says they’ll stick to deficit goals and deliver free diabetes meds, birth control

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says pharmacare will not jeopardize Canada’s fiscal standing as the federal government intends to abide by the spending rules it pledged in the fall. Freeland speaks at a news conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
The NDP says it has reached a deal with the governing Liberals to introduce the first piece of a national pharmacare program that includes coverage for birth control and diabetes medication. Allison Nimlos, of Minnesota, holds up her American bottle of NovoLog insulin and a Canadian box of NovoRapid, which she picked up at a Walmart pharmacy in London, Ont., Saturday, June 29, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Geoff Robins

Diabetes medication, birth control covered in federal pharmacare deal

Some final details of NDP/Liberal agreement could still be worked out over the weekend

The NDP says it has reached a deal with the governing Liberals to introduce the first piece of a national pharmacare program that includes coverage for birth control and diabetes medication. Allison Nimlos, of Minnesota, holds up her American bottle of NovoLog insulin and a Canadian box of NovoRapid, which she picked up at a Walmart pharmacy in London, Ont., Saturday, June 29, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Geoff Robins
Justin Trudeau took an unprompted jab at his main political rival over a Senate porn bill that the prime minister says could usher in a digital ID for adults who want to browse certain websites. Trudeau made the comments today following a press conference in Nova Scotia where he accused Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of spreading “lies” about the Liberal government’s upcoming online harms legislation. Trudeau makes an announcement in Membertou First Nation on Cape Breton Island, N.S., Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

Porn browsing ID talk prompts Trudeau to take jab at Poilievre

Conservative leader says party supports bill that would require porn sites to verify users’ ages

Justin Trudeau took an unprompted jab at his main political rival over a Senate porn bill that the prime minister says could usher in a digital ID for adults who want to browse certain websites. Trudeau made the comments today following a press conference in Nova Scotia where he accused Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of spreading “lies” about the Liberal government’s upcoming online harms legislation. Trudeau makes an announcement in Membertou First Nation on Cape Breton Island, N.S., Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh points to a $20 pack of cheese during a visit to a Loblaws grocery store in Ottawa, which he believes is a reflection of grocery chains price gouging consumers on Wednesday Feb. 21, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mickey Djuric

Singh vs. Weston: the battle for control of Canada’s grocery aisles

NDP leader on a crusade to bring down ‘corporate greed’ in the country’s supermarkets

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh points to a $20 pack of cheese during a visit to a Loblaws grocery store in Ottawa, which he believes is a reflection of grocery chains price gouging consumers on Wednesday Feb. 21, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mickey Djuric
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks during a press conference in Vancouver on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. Poilievre says a future Conservative government would make it a law for porn websites to verify the age of users, in order to prevent minors from accessing the content. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

Conservatives want proof-of-age verification limiting child access to porn

Poilievre says Conservative government would require it, has yet to clarify how process would work

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks during a press conference in Vancouver on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. Poilievre says a future Conservative government would make it a law for porn websites to verify the age of users, in order to prevent minors from accessing the content. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre holds a press conference in the foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. Poilievre says he believes “biological males” have no place in sports or change rooms that are labelled female. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Women’s sports, change rooms no place for ‘biological males’: Poilievre

Conservative leader’s statement in line with a Conservative policy resolution last fall

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre holds a press conference in the foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. Poilievre says he believes “biological males” have no place in sports or change rooms that are labelled female. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Canada is very close to tabling its long-awaited online harms bill. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)

Child safety, not censorship, the focus of online harms bill: Trudeau

Long percolating bill governing internet activity could be tabled as soon as next week

Canada is very close to tabling its long-awaited online harms bill. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly speaks with senior Global Affairs Canada official, Weldon Epp before appearing at committee, Wednesday, March 22, 2023 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Canada holds ‘workshops’ for Indian officials on rule of law amid leaders’ spat

Tension remains after Trudeau accused India of helping to kill a B.C. Sikh community leader

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly speaks with senior Global Affairs Canada official, Weldon Epp before appearing at committee, Wednesday, March 22, 2023 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Abbotsford West MLA Mike de Jong announces on Wednesday in the Legislature in Victoria that he is retiring from provincial politics. (Wolfgang Depner/Black Press Media)

Abbotsford MLA Mike de Jong to retire from provincial politics

BC United MLA says he is considering a run with the federal Conservatives

Abbotsford West MLA Mike de Jong announces on Wednesday in the Legislature in Victoria that he is retiring from provincial politics. (Wolfgang Depner/Black Press Media)
Stock photo of someone wearing a mask (Adobe stock)

COVID-19 protection makers launch $5B lawsuit alleging feds misled them

Canadian Association of PPE Manufacturers says misleading statements led to bad investments

Stock photo of someone wearing a mask (Adobe stock)
Bruce Uzelman
Bruce Uzelman
Canadians are stressed out about the economy and have little faith in politicians or governments to fix big problems, a new survey suggests. Canadian $100 bills are counted in Toronto on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy

Canadians stressed by economy, lack faith in their politicians: survey

CanTrust Index shows Canadians growing increasingly lacking in faith and trust

Canadians are stressed out about the economy and have little faith in politicians or governments to fix big problems, a new survey suggests. Canadian $100 bills are counted in Toronto on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy
Canada is approaching total irrelevance in the world’s fastest growing continent, experts argue, saying that a pattern of disengagement in trade, diplomacy and investment in Africa is ceding ground to Russia and China. A cargo train leaves from the port containers depot in Mombasa, Kenya, to Nairobi, using a railway financed by China, on May 30, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Khalil Senosi

Africa will ‘friend-zone’ Canada if feds don’t improve engagement, experts say

‘Canada actually needs Africa more than Africa needs Canada,’ one non-profit head argues

Canada is approaching total irrelevance in the world’s fastest growing continent, experts argue, saying that a pattern of disengagement in trade, diplomacy and investment in Africa is ceding ground to Russia and China. A cargo train leaves from the port containers depot in Mombasa, Kenya, to Nairobi, using a railway financed by China, on May 30, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Khalil Senosi
(Pixabay)
(Pixabay)
Several dentists and hygienists fear they won’t be fairly paid for services under the new federal dental program, and they worry it will jeopardize the success of the massive new program. Dental instruments are shown in Oakville, Ont., Wednesday, April 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Staff

Reimbursement concerns could take a bite out of Canada’s new dental plan

Dentists and hygienists may elect not to participate due to costs and complications, some say

Several dentists and hygienists fear they won’t be fairly paid for services under the new federal dental program, and they worry it will jeopardize the success of the massive new program. Dental instruments are shown in Oakville, Ont., Wednesday, April 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Staff
The Liberal government plans to ensure sexually explicit “deepfakes,” like the images of Taylor Swift that generated global headlines last month, are addressed by forthcoming legislation on online harms. Swift, left, is pictured here with Donna Kelce at the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Julio Cortez

Sexually explicit deepfake regulations coming in online harms bill: Liberals

Canada’s justice minister says legislation will address issue coming to the forefront with AI

The Liberal government plans to ensure sexually explicit “deepfakes,” like the images of Taylor Swift that generated global headlines last month, are addressed by forthcoming legislation on online harms. Swift, left, is pictured here with Donna Kelce at the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Julio Cortez
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre talks to media at a party caucus meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Feb.7, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Poilievre confirms he opposes puberty blockers for kids under 18

Prime Minister Trudeau says Conservative leader wants to take away rights

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre talks to media at a party caucus meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Feb.7, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Cloverdale-Langley City MP John Aldag was in the City Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, for the announcement of the names of the Surrey and Langley SkyTrain stations. (Black Press Media files)

Cloverdale-Langley City Liberal MP mulls provincial run for NDP

John Aldag has twice represented the federal riding

Cloverdale-Langley City MP John Aldag was in the City Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, for the announcement of the names of the Surrey and Langley SkyTrain stations. (Black Press Media files)
(Stock photo)
(Stock photo)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. The Liberals intend to move quickly to get a Ukraine free-trade bill back up for debate and pressure the Conservatives to support it as MPs return to the House of Commons today following the Christmas break. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrick Doyle

Spotlight turns to Ukraine, carbon price as Parliament returns in Ottawa

Conservatives against Ukraine trade deal because of carbon pricing

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. The Liberals intend to move quickly to get a Ukraine free-trade bill back up for debate and pressure the Conservatives to support it as MPs return to the House of Commons today following the Christmas break. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrick Doyle